Alelo Provides Enterprise License for Handheld Training Platform to the DoD
October 5, 2009

Alelo has received a contract award to deliver language and culture training technology for handheld devices to the Department of Defense. Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) awarded the contract to provide an enterprise level license for the Uku handheld training platform. Uku delivers interactive multimedia foreign language and culture training programs on Apple handheld devices, including the iPhone and iPod. Servicemembers will be able to install the Uku platform, and a variety of free of charge interactive training modules on their device.

The Marine Corps has also contracted with Alelo to develop and deliver a suite of Uku-based culture and language training materials, initially focusing on Afghanistan and Iraq, and other training courses in the future.

These programs are designed to supplement Alelo’s game-based learning products, such as the Dari and Pashto language and culture training systems (also known as Tactical dari and Tactical pashto), as well as with Alelo’s multi-player training capability called Virtual Role Players (VRP). Together these will provide trainees with a wide spectrum of anywhere, anytime training capabilities, from basic vocabulary through advanced conversational skills, both prior to deployment and in within their area of operation. Alelo’s training products have already demonstrated their effectiveness in developing mission-relevant communication skills, improving operational effectiveness and saving lives. This new handheld capability will increase the accessibility and effectiveness of Alelo’s offerings, and will provide trainees with a way to continue to develop, strengthen, and sustain their communication skills.

» Download the news release in .pdf format

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Alelo's Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer Launches on Joint Knowledge online
September 21, 2009

Alelo Inc., a creator of advanced learning products for cross-cultural communication skills, has developed the Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT), which U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) has launched on Joint Knowledge Online (http://jko.jfcom.mil). VCAT is the first of its kind: a game-based cultural learning environment that is accessible via the Web and conforms to SCORM-compliant learning content management systems (LCMS).

VCAT is designed to develop the cultural awareness of personnel who are preparing for deployment to the Horn of Africa’s (HOA) thirteen countries as defined by the U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM). VCAT provides the task-based operational cultural information about the region that is necessary for the successful completion of military missions, including Civil Affairs, Security Cooperation, and Humanitarian Assistance. It also features game-based scenarios that immerse the player in a believable 3D world. VCAT’s scenarios are based on real-life HOA locations where trainees are able to practice their intercultural skills in interactions with African non-player characters.

Alelo has received wide recognition both in the U.S. and internationally for its game-based training products such as Tactical Iraqi and Tactical Dari. These programs are currently in use by tens of thousands of American and Australian troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. Alelo and USJFCOM’s partnership on the development of the VCAT course marks the start of a new era for immersive game-based online cultural training offered by the DoD.

About U.S. Joint Forces Command

USJFCOM is one of DoD’s ten combatant commands and has several key roles in transforming the U.S. military’s capabilities. To access and enroll in the course, visit http://jko.jfcom.mil. JKO is the USJFCOM portal to online joint training for individuals preparing for joint deployment and training exercises.

» Download the news release in .pdf format
» Visit the Team Orlando VCAT case study page

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Alelo exhibits its newest technology at SimTect 2009 in Adelaide, Australia
June 2009

Dr. W. Lewis Johnson, Alelo's President and Chief Scientist, and Michael Emonts (Director of Government Programs) will be presenting Alelo's line of language and culture training products at this year's SimTect 2009 Conference and Exhibition in Adelaide, Australia from June 15th through 18th. They will also be introducing Alelo's newest technologies, VRP (Virtual Role Players) for VBS2, and VCAT (Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer), to the Australian and Asian-Pacific markets.

VRP-VBS2 makes it possible to create highly realistic training environments in which trainees can practice their intercultural competency and foreign language skills, not
just their kinetic warghting skills. Trainers can create and run complex scenarios at any time, without relying upon large numbers of human role players to control avatars in the virtual world.

The Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT™) is a web-based gaming simulation for joint warriors immersed
in multiple AORs, for multiple mission sets, and multiple scenarios; which uses tailored, task-based training focused on mission area and country of deployment.

Alelo will be demonstrating these new technologies, along with the highly successful line of Tactical Language and Culture Training System products at Booth #22 at the Adelaide Convention Centre during the exhibition.

» Link to SimTect 2009 website

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Alelo's Dr. W. Lewis Johnson gives keynote talk at IWIC 2009 at Stanford University
February 2009

Dr. W. Lewis Johnson, Alelo's President and Chief Scientist, gave a keynote presentation at this year's International ACM Workshop on Intercultural Collaboration at IWIC 2009 at Stanford University. The topic of his presentation was the use of videogame technologies and interactive learning technologies to promote intercultural competence.

He presented Alelo's Situated Culture Methodology for developing cultural learning materials, which focuses on cultural skills that learners can employ in their day-to-day activities. He also demonstrated examples of Alelo products that employ this method, including the Tactical Dari language and culture trainer and the Virtual Cultural Awareness Trainer (VCAT). The attendees responded very favorably to the presentation, and felt that it offered insights that apply broadly to the modern multicultural work environment as well as to other settings where intercultural interaction takes place. For more, CLICK HERE to download the abstract of the talk in .pdf format; or select THIS LINK to view a .pdf formatted version of the PowerPoint slide show that he presented.

» Abstract of the talk in .pdf format
» Slideshow presentation in .pdf format
» International Workshop on Intercultural Communication

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Alelo Selected to Prime in Army PEO STRI STOC II Contract
February 2009

Alelo Inc., a developer of advanced language and culture learning products, announced today that it has been selected as a prime contractor by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), for both Lot I (the full and open category), and Lot II (the small business category).  

Alelo brings to the Army a unique range of capabilities relevant to training in foreign languages and cultures, and more generally for nonkinetic operations and the projection of Smart Power overseas. These include instructional design methodologies and tools for language and culture training, as well as advanced training technologies such as intelligent tutoring systems, game-based learning environments, speech, language, virtual human and conversational AI (artificial intelligence) technologies. “We are delighted to have this opportunity to serve the Army as one of its preferred training system vendors,” said Dr. W. Lewis Johnson, Alelo’s President and Chief Scientist.

Alelo has won wide recognition both in the US and internationally for its advanced training applications, such as the Tactical Language family of language-in-culture trainers. Alelo’s selection by PEO STRI will facilitate the development and delivery of advanced Smart Power training for Army use.

» U.S. Army PEO STRI (Simulation Training and Instrumentation)

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Alelo's New Language and Culture Training Capabilities Demonstrated at I/ITSEC 2008
December 2008

Alelo Inc., a developer of advanced learning products for cross-cultural communication skills, demonstrated a number of new capabilities and products at this year’s Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

Alelo demonstrated new additions to the TLTS line of “serious games” for learning foreign language and culture. These included new versions of the Tactical Iraqi and Tactical French videogames, which teach Iraqi Arabic and African French, respectively. Tactical Iraqi is already a winner of multiple awards, including the Serious Games Challenge at I/ITSEC 2007. The new expanded versions of these courses include extended lessons and game scenarios that are designed to take someone with no knowledge of Arabic or French up to an intermediate level of language proficiency, as measured by the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language) proficiency scale. Alelo also demonstrated its new Tactical Dari game, as well as adapted games focused on the needs of Australian, British, and other military forces.

In addition, Alelo demonstrated new Web-based courses, for both language and culture training. As with TLTS, these courses incorporate speech recognition and artificial intelligence technologies that enable learners to practice conversations with animated characters in the foreign language. These capabilities are now available via the World Wide Web, greatly expanding the accessibility of the courses. One course, Encounters: Chinese Language and Culture, is being developed jointly with Yale University, and received wide acclaim from Chinese language instructors at the recent ACTFL conference. Another course, VCAT (Virtual Culture Awareness Trainer), is being developed to teach cultural knowledge about the Horn of Africa region. This latter course will be made available via Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) to all military and civilian personnel wishing to gain cultural competency before deploying overseas.

Finally, Alelo demonstrated a first version of its new conversational artificial intelligence plug-in for Bohemia Interactive’s VBS2 (Virtual Battlespace 2). This new training tool, called ALTS (Automated LanguageTraining System), allows trainees to practice their language and cultural skills in multi-player training scenarios. In the current scenario, trainees must meet with a local sheikhand speak with him in Iraqi Arabic in order to obtain information about insurgents in the area.If the traineesdemonstrate sufficient cultural awareness, and are able to use the language, the sheikh will cooperate and share information that will enable the trainees to complete their mission. ALTS thus serves as a multi-player counterpart to the single player Tactical Iraqi game.

The US Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems (PM TRASYS), a major sponsor of the TLTS and related training program, demonstrated these capabilities to a delegation of congressmen attending the show, including J. Randy Forbes (R/Virginia 4th District) and Bobby Scott (D/Virginia 3rd District). Paul Nichols, a dedicated contractor supporting PM TRASYS, explained to the visiting congressmen: “This is the training technology development portion of the system. We develop things here and then feed them to the current DVTE [Deployable Virtual Training Environment].” The DVTE is a package of portable computers and training software that is in use at dozens of military installations around the world.

» The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC)
» American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

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Alelo Wins Contract to Develop Language Learning Portal for Voice of America
November 2008

The Broadcasting Board of Governors has contracted Alelo TLT LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alelo Inc., to develop an interactive Web-based learning portal for learners of English as a second language. The learning portal will be part of Voice of America's international programming. VOA is the largest U.S. international broadcaster, reaching an estimated audience of 134 million weekly around the world. The program entitled, "Dynamic English Learning Website", will incorporate automated speech recognition and artificial intelligence technologies that will enable learners of English to practice their conversational skills on the computer.

The "Dynamic English Learning Website" will make Alelo's advanced learning technologies available to learners around the world via the World Wide Web. The intended audience is college-age Chinese and Persian learners. The portal will employ a Dynamic English instructional method and incorporate speech recognition technology. The technology is specifically tailored for English language learners of all levels, which allows learners to engage in spoken conversations with Web-based computer characters. This will give new as well as lifelong learners of English unique opportunities to practice their spoken language skills. The Voice of America portal will also draw on Voice of America's rich archive of English language media materials, to reinforce listening comprehension skills.

These same advanced Web-based learning technologies are being incorporated into a range of other language learning portals. Development partners include Yale University, US Joint Forces Command, and the US Marine Corps.

» Voice of America

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Tactical Iraqi Language & Culture System wins Technology Council's Product of the Year
February 2008

The Technology Council of Southern California presented our Tactical Iraqi Language & Culture Training System with the Product of the Year award. The organization's annual Technology Industry Awards honors individuals and companies that play a significant role in advancing Southern California as a center for technological innovation over the past year.

Founded in 1991 as the Software Council of Southern California, the Technology Council has a 16-year history of supporting the success of technology companies by providing recognition of leadership and a broad range of events, connections, information and resources.

» Technology Council of Southern California
» Tactical Iraqi Language & Culture Training System

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Tactical Iraqi wins Best Serious Game at I/ITSEC Serious Games Showcase & Challenge
December 2007

Our Tactical Iraqi Language & Culture Training System won the Best Serious Game award at the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge hosted by the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).

The conference — now in its 41st year — promotes cooperation among the Armed Services, industry, academia and various government agencies in pursuit of improved training and education programs, and identification of common training issues.

The conference's annual Serious Games Showcase and Challenge seeks innovative game-based technologies and solutions that improve training for individuals, groups and systems. The competition considers that a "game" involves an assigned challenge and employs positive and/or negative reward system. A "serious game" overcomes a designated problem or deficiency, and provides appropriate feedback to users about their efforts.

Entries were judged for their solution to a stated problem, technical quality, and playability/usability. The judges looked for clear definition of the addressed problem or need; the gaming or game technology solution involved; technological soundness in development, delivery and user interface; and the user's experience regarding engagement, enjoyment, ease of use, challenge and reward.

» Serious Games Showcase & Challenge
» Tactical Language Training LLC
» I/ITSEC

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Cherokee course a big hit at National Indian Education Association convention
November 2007

The pilot version of the Rez World course to teach Cherokee was a big hit at the 2007 National Indian Education Association convention in October 2007. Over a hundred people crowded into a small room to see a demonstration by Don and Kara Thornton, principals of Thornton Media Inc., producers of the course using Alelo Technology.

Since 1996, Thornton Media has been creating custom hi-tech language tools for tribal governments and schools with the goal of helping put the beautiful sounds of Native American languages where they belong in the homes of tribal members.

Tribal language revitalization is more important now than ever. More than 90% of tribal languages will be gone within 20 years if effective measures are not taken. Thornton Media is the only company devoted to Native American languages, having provided language and culture revitalization tools to over 90 tribes and Indian organizations.

» Thornton Media Inc.
» National Indian Education Association
» Alelo Technology

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